The Board of General Superintendents announced that Jim Ritchie had been elected by the General Board to serve as the Church of the Nazarene’s next Global Missions director. 

Ritchie, who currently serves as Eurasia regional director, was elected during the Monday morning plenary session of the 100th Session of the General Board, held 23-26 February in Overland Park, Kansas, USA.

“I believe the world without Jesus is a world without hope,” Ritchie said. “But I believe that Jesus is Lord, and he’s Lord to the ends of the earth. He has given us a commission, and he has given us a calling. We will go to the ends of the earth and make Christlike disciples, and the church will grow because Jesus promised it would. He will build that church, and even the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” 

Ritchie will follow Verne Ward, who has served as Global Missions director since 2012. Ward announced his retirement during the 99th session of the General Board in February 2023. 

Ritchie has served as Eurasia regional director since October 2020. Previously, Ritchie served in the dual leadership roles of British Isles North District superintendent since 2016 and as senior pastor of the Trinity Church of the Nazarene, Perth, Scotland, since 2012. 

Ordained in 1998 in the Church of Scotland, he has pastored several local congregations in Scotland and Canada. Additionally, he headed The Scotland Trust as national director from 2008 to 2012; led Power to Live, a youth and school outreach movement, as executive director; and founded One Trust, a youth, music, and sports ministry, leading as a ministry director. He holds a Bachelor of Divinity and a Master of Theology from Edinburgh University, Scotland.

After he joined the denomination, the Church of the Nazarene accepted Ritchie’s ordination in 2013. 

Ritchie gave his life to Christ at 16 and said he “almost immediately had a passion for missions.” He joined various summer missions teams throughout Scotland, and in 1982, he met his wife, Maggie, on a summer missions trip. They were married the next year and now have five adult children and three grandchildren.

“We are humbled and truly honored,” Jim said. “We give thanks to the Lord for this calling on our lives. We thank you for having faith and trust in us.”